Smuggled cars: Customs approve 60% rebate on duties from 2015

Abuja—The Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, has approved a 60 per cent rebate for duties to be paid for cars smuggled into the country from 2015, even as it increased the number of payment points to enable auto dealers and private car owners pay duties on the vehicles.

A statement signed by Acting Public Relations Officer, Assistant Controller of Customs, Joseph Attah, said: “In response to public complains and suggestions, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Col. Hameed Ibrahim Ali (retd) has approved the adjustment of points of payment and 60% rebate across board from 2015 downward to ease the process and encourage all motor dealers in position of un-customed vehicles to come forward and pay duty.

“While the grace period remains Monday, March 13 to Wednesday April 12, the points of payments, with the exception of Lagos and Port Harcourt, will now be the nearest Customs Area Command.

“In the same vein, private vehicle owners who know that duty has not been paid on their vehicles could take advantage of this grace period to do so. Therefore, owners of such vehicles or their representatives are expected to go to the nearest pay-point for assessment and payment.

“It should, however, be noted that the 60% rebate applies only within the grace period. For the avoidance of doubt, the decision to grant a grace period for auto duty payment was not a sudden and arbitrary one, but a product of consultations and long standing engagement with the leadership of Association of Motor Dealers of Nigeria, AMDON, who pleaded for a ‘window’ to pay duty on all un-customed vehicles within the country before the ban on vehicle importation through the land borders.